Sunday, August 07, 2011

A sports radio talk show host’s short-lived Twitter posting that called Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez an illegal alien after his errant pitch Friday night started a baseball brawl had the Internet world in an uproar Saturday.

...Tony Bruno, whose nationally syndicated show is broadcast on KNBR, posted his comment on Twitter during his show about Ramirez hitting the Phillies’ Shane Victorino with a pitch Friday night, a pitch that sparked a bench-clearing brawl.

“gutless #!@%*# Giants,” he posted. “(Giants manager Bruce) Bochy is a coward for having his illegal alien pitcher hit a guy since mighty Frisco boys…”

The comment was quickly removed, but not before many fans read it, and some copied it and reposted it on various Internet sites.

“I did remove my post and apologize for my comments regarding illegal aliens,” he wrote. “I was angry and on the air and I stand behind my comments that Bruce Bochy is a coward, as are all managers who order pitchers to throw at guys just because their pitchers can’t get a guy out. All of you people resorting to name calling are more classless and vile.”

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Seems a bit out of character for him to post that, even though he is a Philadelphia sports fan. But this kind of idiocy is not his shtick, from what I've ever heard.

It's often the guys who aren't natural ########, but decide to try to play one to make their careers, who screw up the worst. People who are actually humongous ######## have a lifetime of experience modulating their assholery for their audience.

Seems a bit out of character for him to post that, even though he is a Philadelphia sports fan. But this kind of idiocy is not his shtick, from what I've ever heard.

Yeah, this seems out of character. This is probably why sports announcers/pundits shouldn't be fanboys, I guess. It doesn't look good for a pro to sound like a random commenter on a Fox Sports article.

Unfair, I tried that tactic once with a girlfriend and it didn't work for me at all.

I did sleep with your sister and I apologize. To be fair, she's really hot, I stand by that. What really struck me about this series of events is the lack of class you showed in your reaction. Some of the things you called me were hateful and vile. This concludes my apology.

I did sleep with your sister and I apologize. To be fair, she's really hot, I stand by that. What really struck me about this series of events is the lack of class you showed in your reaction. Some of the things you called me were hateful and vile. This concludes my apology.

Look, if your reaction to a player being hit by a pitch is not "Hey, that guy hit our player!" but rather "Hey, that Latino guy hit our player!"... I think it's fair to say you've got some baggage. I wouldn't be moved to go out in the street and protest you, but, I mean, you really need to look in the mirror there.

Tony Bruno is one of the funniest and most likeable sports commentators.

Obviously he has some issues with the Giants too, but who doesn't? They have to be baseballs whiniest team.

What's weird about it is that Bruno doesn't just host a syndicated national talk show that KNBR happens to pick up, he spent years as the de facto co-host of one of KNBR's morning shows (he'd basically call in and chat with the host for two hours every morning). He does radio spots for local SF businesses. It's not like he's some Philly-centric radio jock who thought that no one in the Bay Area would be paying attention.

Look, if your reaction to a player being hit by a pitch is not "Hey, that guy hit our player!" but rather "Hey, that Latino guy hit our player!"... I think it's fair to say you've got some baggage. I wouldn't be moved to go out in the street and protest you, but, I mean, you really need to look in the mirror there.

A very good point. It reminds me of when I was at Ole Miss and the football team had a black quarterback. When he did well, he was The Quarterback, when he did poorly, he was The Black Quarterback.

I agree, especially with someone as low-key as Ramiro Ramirez. (Unless I've missed something since he left Boston.)...I can understand a little more if say someone like Albert Belle or Gary Sheffield clocked your favorite player from behind and you said something in haste. There's still some issues you gotta deal with but..., it's just Ramiro Ramirez.